EP0431657A1

EP0431657A1 - Display device and methods of manufacturing such a display device

Info

Publication number: EP0431657A1
Application number: EP90202908A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Maria Christiaan Van Uden; Ronald Van Der Wilk; Josephus Johannus Van Moorsel; Werner Daniel Petrus Kauwenberg
Original assignee: Philips Gloeilampenfabrieken NV; Koninklijke Philips Electronics NV
Current assignee: Koninklijke Philips NV
Priority date: 1989-11-08
Filing date: 1990-11-05
Publication date: 1991-06-12
Anticipated expiration: 2010-11-05
Also published as: DE69008495T2; DE69008495D1; US5087854A; EP0431657B1; JPH03171540A; NL8902758A

Abstract

A display device comprising an electrode having a plate with a pattern of apertures (2) and a pattern of conductors (8). Said pattern of conductors (8) is recessed in the plate, thus reducing the risk of the pattern of conductors (8) being damaged. When the pattern of conductors (8) and the plate are separated from each other by means of an insulating layer (7), the insulating layer (7) and the pattern of conductors (8) are preferably arranged in such a manner that the pattern of conductors (8) screens the insulating layer (8) from the electron beam. The method is characterized in that apertures (8) are formed in the plate and grooves (6) are formed between the apertures (8), the plate is provided with a first insulating layer (7) which covers at least the walls (5) of the apertures (8) and the craters, at least the surface between the apertures (8) and the grooves (6) being covered with a removable layer, a conducting material is applied to at least the walls (5) of the apertures and the grooves (6), after which the removable layer is removed from at least the surface between the apertures (8) and the grooves (6), in an embodiment of the method according to the invention, the second insulating layer being applied by means of roller coating. Two alternative methods of manufacturing a display device are described.

Description

The invention relates to a display device comprising a means for generating an electron beam and an electrode, said electrode comprising a plate having a pattern of apertures for transmitting the electron beam and a pattern of conductors for influencing the passage of the electron beam, the plate and the pattern being mechanically interconnected and electrically separated.
The invention also relates to methods of manufacturing a display device of the type mentioned in the opening paragraph.
A display device of the type mentioned in the opening paragraph and a method of manufacturing such a display device are known from United States Patent Specification 4,650,435. In said specification a description is given of a display device comprising a cathode-ray tube. Said cathode-ray tube comprises a focusing colour-selection electrode. Said focusing colour-selection electrode comprises a conducting plate having apertures for transmitting an electron beam. Ridges of insulating material are formed on either side of each aperture. Conducting strips are provided on said ridges. The conducting strips form a pattern of conductors. The pattern of conductors and the conducting plate are mechanically interconnected by said ridges and electrically separated.
The passage of the electron beam through the apertures is influenced by applying a potential difference between the conducting plate and the conducting strips. The electron beam is focused in the apertures. As a result hereof, the transmission through the colour selection electrode is increased.
The known display device has the disadvantage that the conducting pattern can be damaged relatively easily.
One of the objects of the invention is to provide a display device of the type mentioned in the opening paragraph by means of which the above disadvantage is overcome.
For this purpose, the display device according to the invention is characterized in that the pattern of conductors is constructed so as to be recessed in the plate.
The pattern of conductors may be damaged by a scratch across the surface of the electrode. Scratches may be formed during the treatment of the electrodes. In the display device according to the invention, the conductor pattern is recessed in the electrode and a conductor cannot be damaged by a scratch across the surface. An embodiment of the display device according to the invention is characterized in that each aperture is surrounded by a crater-shaped wall, grooves which are formed in the plate extend between the apertures, and the walls of the apertures and the walls of the grooves are provided with a conducting material.
As regards the electron-optical properties, it is advantageous when the aperture is surrounded by a crater-shaped wall.
By employing crater-shaped walls a depth effect can be obtained such that the effectiveness with which the electrons can be influenced by the electric field which can be generated by the conductors is increased.
By virtue hereof, lower switching voltages are required and the current loss in the conductors is reduced.
When the pattern of conductors is separated from the plate by an insulating layer, the insulating layer and the pattern of conductors are preferably arranged such that the insulating layer is screened from the electron beam by the pattern of conductors.
In this case, the insulating layer cannot be charged by the electron beam.
A method according to the invention is characterized in that the apertures are formed in the plate and grooves are formed between said apertures, the plate is provided with an electrically insulating layer which covers at least the walls of the apertures and the grooves, the surface between the apertures and the grooves is covered with a further removable layer, after which a conducting material is provided over at least the walls of the apertures and the grooves, after which the removable layer is removed from at least the surface between the grooves and the craters.
An embodiment of the method according to the invention is characterized in that the removable layer is provided by means of roller coating.
An alternative method according to the invention is characterized in that apertures are formed in the plate, between which grooves are formed, the plate is provided with an electrically insulating layer which covers at least the walls of the apertures and the grooves, after which a conducting material is provided on the plate, at least the walls of the apertures and the grooves being covered by the conducting material, subsequently, a removable material is provided in the apertures and the grooves, after which the conducting material present between the apertures and the grooves is removed, and subsequently the removable material is removed from at least the apertures.
A further alternative method according to the invention is characterized in that apertures are formed in the plate, between which grooves are formed, the plate is provided with an electrically insulating layer covering at least the walls of the apertures and the grooves, after which a positive photoresist foil is applied to the plate on the side of the grooves, subsequently, the photoresist foil being exposed through the apertures and the exposed photoresist being removed, after which a conducting material is applied to the walls of the apertures and the grooves and the remaining photoresist is removed.
The above-mentioned methods have in common that the apertures and the grooves are preferably formed by means of etching. It has been found that, by virtue hereof, the transition between the apertures and the grooves is more gradual, i.e. no sharp edge is formed.
The invention will be explained in greater detail by means of exemplary embodiments and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which

Fig. 1 and Fig. 2 are a sectional and a partly perspective elevational view, respectively, of an electrode suitable for use in the known display device;
Figs. 3 and 4 are a sectional and a partly perspective elevational view, respectively, of an electrode suitable for use in a display device according to the invention;
Fig. 5 is a partly perspective elevational view of a further example of an electrode which is suitable for a display device according to the invention;
Figs. 6, 7 and 8 show further examples of electrodes suitable for use in a display device according to the invention;
Fig. 9 is a display device according to the invention;
Figs. 10 up to and including 15 are illustrations of the method according to the invention.
Figs. 16 and 17 are illustrations of alternative methods according to the invention.

Figs. 1 and 2 are a sectional and a partly perspective elevational view, respectively, of an electrode suitable for use in the known display device. An electrode 1 comprises apertures 2. Ridges 3 of an insulating material are formed on the electrode 1 between the apertures. Conductors 4 are provided on said ridges 3. The passage of electrons through the apertures 2 of the electrode 1 can be influenced by applying voltages to said conductors 4. A disadvantage of the electrode 1 which is suitable for use in the known display device, is that the conductors can be damaged relatively easily.
Figs. 3 and 4 are a sectional and a partly perspective elevational view, respectively, of an electrode suitable for use in a display device according to the invention. In the present example, apertures 2 in the electrode are surrounded by crater-shaped walls 5. The apertures are interconnected by grooves 6. At least the walls 5 and the walls of the grooves 6 are coated with an insulating layer 7 on which a conducting layer 8 is provided. As the conducting layer 8 is formed so as to be recessed in the plate, the electric connection between the craters is not interrupted by a scratch 9 as shown in Fig. 4. It will be obvious that such a scratch damages the ridges 3 shown in Figs. 1 and 2 to such an extent that the conducting ridges are interrupted.
Fig. 5 shows a further example of an electrode which is suitable for a display device according to the invention. In this electrode, the craters and the grooves are constructed as a single wide notch. Such an embodiment can be manufactured in a simpler manner.
By employing a suitable shape for the craters a depth effect can be obtained such that the effectiveness with which the electrons can be influenced by the conductors is increased.
By virtue hereof, lower switching voltages are necessary and the current loss in the conductors is reduced.
It is to be noted, that in this and subsequent drawings, the craters and grooves are drawn so as to be accurately aligned. This is not to be regarded as limiting the scope of the invention. For example, in an alternative embodiment the craters and grooves may be constructed so as to have a zigzag pattern.
Figs. 6 up to and including 8 show further examples of electrodes which are suitable for use in the display device according to the invention.
Fig. 6 shows an electrode comprising two plates 20 having craters 21 coated with conducting layers 22, which plates are stacked in such a manner that the craters 21 face each other.
Fig. 7 shows an electrode 25 comprising two plates 26 having craters 27, 28, 29 and 30, the plates being provided with craters on both sides and said craters facing each other.
Fig. 8 shows an electrode comprising two plates 35 having craters 36 which are in line.
In all these embodiments the conducting layers and the insulating layers are arranged in such a manner that the electrons cannot charge the insulating layers. In contrast, in Fig. 1 the insulating layer can be charged by electrons.
Fig. 9 is a sectional view of a display device according to the invention. Said display device 50 comprises a cathode-ray tube 51. Said cathode-ray tube 51 comprises a number of wire cathodes 53 and a display screen 54 in an evacuated envelope 52. A selection grid 55 is arranged between the wire cathodes 53 and the display screen 54. Said selection grid 55 comprises two electrodes 56 and 57. Each of these electrodes comprises rows of apertures 58 and 59, respectively, in which parts of conductor patterns are present. By applying voltages to the conductor patterns, electron beams can be made to selectively pass through the selection grid 55. In this manner, an image can be formed on the display screen 54. In the present example, deflection means 60 for deflecting the electron beams are arranged between the display screen 54 and the selection grid 55.
Figs. 10 up to and including 15 illustrate the method according to the invention.
As is shown in Fig. 10, a plate 70 is provided with apertures 71 and grooves 72. This can be carried out in a number of ways, for example, by etching, by scratching, by means of a laser or by spark erosion. Preferably, an etching process is used because this precludes the formation of sharp edges at the transition between the apertures and the grooves. It is difficult to deposit a continuous layer on a sharp edge in a reliable manner. Subsequently, the plate is provided with a first insulating layer 73, as shown in Fig. 11. This can be carried out in a number of ways, for example, by providing the plate with an aluminium layer which is subsequently anodized, by applying a layer of an insulating substance to the plate by means of vacuum evaporation, by applying an insulating layer to the plate by means of CVD (Chemical Vapour Deposition), or in another manner, for example, by an electrophoretic coating process. The first insulating layer extends at least over the walls of the part on which the recessed conductor pattern is to be formed at a later stage, in this example the walls of the apertures and the grooves. Subsequently, a second layer 74 is applied which can be removed. Said layer 74 is composed of a removable substance. A method of providing a removable substance consists in applying a lacquer layer by means of a roller coating process. Roller coating is a technique in which a lacquer layer is provided on a surface by means of a roller having a relatively large radius of curvature. It has been found, that such a technique enables a lacquer layer 74 to be provided in such a manner that the craters and the grooves remain free from lacquer.
Although this is a preferred embodiment of the method according to the invention, the invention is not to be regarded as limited thereto. Alternative techniques, for example printing techniques, can also be used to provide the layer 74.
In a test, for example, a roller having a cross-section of 12 mm is used to apply a lacquer layer to an electrode having a pattern of craters and grooves, the interspace between the craters being of the order of one hundred to several hundreds of micrometres. Subsequently, an aluminium layer was provided by means of vacuum evaporation. Next, the lacquer layer was removed from the surface of the electrode. A layer of aluminium remained in the apertures and the grooves. Before the lacquer layer was removed from the electrode, said electrode was immersed in a solvent for the binder layer, for example toluene, for several seconds. As a result hereof, the binder layer can be removed more easily. In another test, a polyimide layer was applied to an electrode by means of an offset-printing technique, an aluminium layer being provided thereon by means of vacuum evaporation. When the right viscosity for the polyimide was selected, suitable results could be obtained by means of this technique.
Subsequently, a conducting layer 75 is provided, as shown in the partly perspective elevational view of Fig. 13. Fig. 14 is a sectional view of the electrode thus obtained. The layer 75 can be provided in various ways, for example, by means of the methods described with respect to the provision of layer 73. Subsequently, the removable layer 74 is removed. A lacquer layer can be, for example, dissolved or removed by rubbing. Fig. 15 is a sectional view of the electrode obtained after layer 75 has been removed. In this manner, an electrode comprising a plate with recessed conductor patterns is manufactured in a simple manner.
An alternative method according to the invention is illustrated in Fig. 16. Apertures 101 and grooves 102 are formed in a plate 100, said plate is provided with an insulating layer 103. Subsequently, a positive photoresist foil is applied to the plate on the side of the grooves. Said photoresist foil is exposed, as diagrammatically indicated by the arrows in Fig. 16. The exposed photoresist is removed. It has been found that although the photoresist which is present above the grooves is not directly exposed, it can still be developed. Probably, the grooves and the photoresist above the grooves act as a light duct through which, via reflections, photoresist which is not directly exposed also receives photons. Subsequently, the exposed photoresist is removed and a conducting layer is applied to the walls of the apertures and the grooves. Next, the remaining photoresist is removed. A conducting layer is present on the walls of the apertures and the grooves.
A further alternative method according to the invention is illustrated in Fig. 17. Plate 110 is provided with apertures 111 and grooves 112. Subsequently, said plate is provided with an electrically insulating layer 113 and a conducting material 114. Next, the apertures and the grooves are filled with a removable material 115, for example a wax. In the next step, the conducting material 114 which extends between the apertures is removed, for example, by rubbing or etching. A conducting layer remains on the walls of the apertures and the grooves.
It will be obvious that within the scope of the invention, many variations are possible to those skilled in the art. For example, the plate does not necessarily have to be flat, a curved plate may alternatively be used.

Claims

1. A display device comprising a means for generating an electron beam and an electrode, said electrode comprising a plate having a pattern of apertures for transmitting the electron beam and a pattern of conductors for influencing the passage of the electron beam, the plate and the pattern being mechanically interconnected and electrically separated, characterized in that the pattern of conductors is constructed so as to be recessed in the plate.

2. A display device as claimed in Claim 1, wherein each aperture is surrounded by a crater-shaped wall, grooves extend between the apertures in the plate, and the walls of the apertures and the walls of the grooves are provided with a conducting material.

3. A display device as claimed in Claim 1 or 2, in which the pattern of conductors is separated from the plate by means of an insulating layer, wherein said insulating layer and the pattern of conducting material are provided in such a manner that the insulating layer is screened from the electron beam by the pattern of conductors.

4. A method of manufacturing a display device comprising a means for generating an electron beam and an electrode, the electrode comprising a plate having a pattern of apertures for transmitting the electron beam and a pattern of conductors for influencing the passage of the electron beam, the plate and the pattern being mechanically interconnected and electrically separated, characterized in that the apertures are formed in the plate and grooves are formed between the apertures, the plate is provided with an electrically insulating layer covering at least the walls of the apertures and the grooves, the surface between the apertures and the grooves is covered with a further, removable layer, after which a conducting material is applied to at least the walls of the apertures and the grooves, after which the removable layer is removed from at least the surface between the grooves and the craters.

5. A method as claimed in Claim 4, wherein the removable layer is provided by means of roller coating.

6. A method as claimed in Claim 4 or 5, wherein the second insulating layer is soluble in a solvent and the electrode is immersed in said solvent before the second insulating layer is removed.

7. A method as claimed in Claim 4, 5 or 6, wherein the apertures and the grooves are formed by means of an etching process.

8. A method of manufacturing a display device comprising a means for generating an electron beam and an electrode, said electrode comprising a plate having a pattern of apertures for transmitting the electron beam and a pattern of conductors for influencing the passage of the electron beam, the plate and the pattern being mechanically interconnected and electrically separated, characterized in that the apertures are formed in the plate and grooves are formed between the apertures, the plate is provided with an electrically insulating layer covering at least the walls of the apertures and the grooves, after which a conducting material is applied to the plate in such a manner that at least the walls of the apertures and the grooves are covered by conducting material, after which a removable material is provided in the apertures and the grooves, after which the conducting material present between the apertures and the grooves is removed, and subsequently the removable material is removed from at least the apertures.

9. A method as claimed in Claim 8, wherein the apertures and the grooves are formed by means of an etching process.

10. A method of manufacturing a display device comprising a means for generating an electron beam and an electrode, the electrode comprising a plate having a pattern of apertures for transmitting the electron beam and a pattern of conductors for influencing the passage of the electron beam, the plate and the pattern being mechanically interconnected and electrically separated, characterized in that the apertures are formed in the plate and grooves are formed between the apertures, the plate is provided with an electrically insulating layer which covers at least the walls of the apertures and the grooves, after which a positive photoresist foil is applied to the plate on the side of the grooves, subsequently, the photoresist foil being exposed through the apertures, after which the exposed photoresist is removed and a conducting material is provided on the walls of the apertures and the grooves, subsequently the remaining photoresist being removed.

11. A method as claimed in Claim 10, wherein the apertures and the grooves are formed by means of an etching process.